Station. TABLE I.-DEPTH OF RAIN IN INCHES, 1917. Observer. Jan. Feb. Mar. April May. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Year F. G. A. Lane Mrs. Middleton Lieut.-Col. T. C. Woodall 2.62 1.55 1.87 0.61 2:54 2:03 2.91 5.23 1.44 4 48 0.80 1.13 27.22 1.92 1.45 1.86 1.16 H. H. Palairet 1.14 1.27 2.78 1:37 1.16 1.34 3.60 1.98 1.13 1.22 363 164 2.31 '92 1.51 3.29 1.51 1.90 1.11 1.34 2.67 1.33 1.69 1.22 1.04 3:08 2:01 3.71 1.79 2:37 5'64 1.97 6'22 1.14 1.56 3.38 1.41 3:24 1.90 3.15 5'98 1.91 6'05 1.20 1.27 3:25 1:30 1.50 1.12 2.10 5.14 2.27 5.16 1.38 1.40 3'08 1.45 1.30 2:30 5.66 2.46 1.34 1.16 3.39 2.20 5*25 | 4*22 6'40 1.99 5'11 1.09 1.03 1'47 1.34 3.37 2:09 2.59 1.18 1.27 3.31 1.65 3'17 1.28 1.06 3:19 2.07 2:06 2.92 3.39 2.63 4.93 2.00 5'01 '84 1.35 30.01 1.41 5.37 1.68 5:52 1'09 1.39 28 79 2.64 5'47 4 23 2 81 1.44 1.28 29.36 1.14 1.00 3.34 3'70 2:07 2.74 1.46 1.19 3.63 2 24 2:35 2:34 2.74 6'14 1.98 517 1.24 1.52 3.21 1.28 2.90 1.98 2.94 5'78 1.69 5.59 1.05 1.28 2.87 1.28 2.35 1.63 2.51 4.25 1.86 4.79 1.38 1.27 1.15 3.10 1.67 2.96 1.78 2.93 5'87 1.61 5.03 0.83 1.16 29-36 1.16 1.07 2.58 1.65 2.70 3.02 3.30 5.13 2.01 4.11 0'97 1.03 28.77 '90 1.27 3:37 2.08 2:09 2.82 2.86 5:38 1.80 3.99 1.29 1.18 29.03 1.18 99 3'06 2.10 3.87 1.64 1.37 574 1.98 5.65 *88 1.10 1.60 1.32 3'86 1.83 3.51 2.37 2.75 7.22 2.36 5'79 1.34 1.30 1.23 1.38 3.71 1.86 1.79 1.76 4'41 6.74 2.71 4.67 1.17 1.16 2.97 1.64 3.25 1.78 2.57 5.38 1'56 1.37 '87 3.10 1.58 3:46 1.99 2.41 5.53 1.49 97 1.13 2.88 1.06 1.89 1:43 2:42 3.85 1.24 1.06 3.12 1.80 3:07 1.95 2.13 5'82 1.93 1.70 1.13 3.33 1'54 2.79 1.53 3.80 6.31 217 5.26 1.12 1.37 32:05 * The averages have been calculated from the Stations marked with an asterisk. TABLE II.-RAINFALL IN 1917. *The averages have been calculated from the Stations marked with an asterisk. Phenological Report on First Appearances of Birds, Ensects, &c., and First Flowering of Plants IN DORSET DURING 1917. By W. PARKINSON CURTIS, F.E.S. BY Y direction of the Council of this Club, and in view of the high cost of printing and shortage of paper, this Report has been reduced to such attenuated dimensions that the features I had tried to introduce into it with a view of stimulating research into the Fauna and Flora of our County have had to be eliminated, and it is no more than a strictly Phenological Report. Its value scientifically is consequently curtailed seriously, and a mass of material at my disposal, from many correspondents, has been reluctantly put aside, and I trust my fellow members and correspondents will not think the shortness is due to my want of appreciation of their kindness in sending the material. I am told by our President that it is largely a question of finance. Notes have been received from : (F.L.B.) (E.H.C.) (W.P.C.) (D.D.) The Reverend F. L. Blathwayt, Melbury E. Harker Curtis, Aysgarth, Parkstone Road, W. Parkinson Curtis, Drake North, Sandringham Dr. Dru Drury, Corfe Castle, Wareham. (J.M.J.F.) The Reverend Canon J. M. J. Fletcher, The Vicarage, Wimborne Minster. (F.H.H.) (J.R.) F. H. Haines, Winfrith. The Reverend A. Bertram Hutton, of Loders Dr. F. G. Penrose, Hawkley, West Cliff Road, Bournemouth. Nelson M. Richardson, Monte Video, near The Reverend J. Ridley, Pulham Rectory, Miss Ellen E. Woodhouse, Chilmore, Ansty, Dr. Dru Drury is a new observer, chiefly a lepidopterist. Mr. Rodd has unfortunately lost his completed 1917 Schedule, thus breaking a thirty-five years' record. NOTES ON BIRDS. THE YELLOW ORIOLE (Oriolus oriolus).-A yellow and black bird was seen at Loders, near Bridport, in May, 1917, which, from the description of those who saw it, I believe to have been a Golden Oriole. A picture of the bird was shown to each of those who reported its occurrence, and they believe it to represent what they saw. The dates were not written down at the time, but very shortly afterwards, and were believed to be correct. Saturday, May 12, seen by Miss Prisca Hutton. Thursday, May 17, seen by Mrs. Hutton. Friday, May 18, seen by Harry Quick, son of the Court Gardener. (A.B.H.) THE GREY WAGTAIL (Motacilla boarula-melanope).-The Grey Wagtail breeds by the village brook here, sc. Melbury Osmond, Dorchester, 22 Nov., 1917. (F.L.B.) THE CONTINENTAL SONG THRUSH (Turdus musicus musicus). -I have no real Dorsetshire records of this bird, but Dr. Penrose recorded it near the Pier at Bournemouth, 20 November, 1917. 14 November, 1917. A continental thrush picked up at 51, Surrey Road, Bournemouth. (F.G.P.) THE RING OUSEL (Turdus torquatus).-Dec. 23. At Oakdale, Poole, an unusually late date. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.) Saxicola rubetra.-8 Sept., 1917. Many in Purbeck. (F.G.P.) 13 July, 1917. Two on the River Frome, where it crosses the Swanage line (F.G.P.); ? were they a nesting pair. THE DIPPER (Cinclus cinclus).-Recorded as breeding at Melbury Osmond, Dorchester, near the brook, by Rev. F. L. Blathwayt, who has seen the egg. 22 Nov., 1917. THE SPOONBILL (Platalea leucerodia).--Dr. Penrose brought to my notice the wanton slaughter of four of these beautiful birds by a Wareham gunner, Will Thorne. Needless to say our supine police did nothing, although this is a specially protected bird and was killed in a specially protected area. The story is really a tragedy :-Two young and two old birds on October 12. On October 27 Mr. Arnold Pike, of Furzebrook, who had made further enquiry, wrote to Dr. Penrose: "The Spoonbill tragedy is more poignant than I at first thought. Two birds spent the winter 1915-16 in Poole Harbour unmolested, |